Oak Park approves $1.15 million contract to replace six water-main crossings on 9 Mile Road

Oak Park’s City Council on March 3 approved a $1,149,431 contract to replace six drinking-water main crossings related to an upcoming 9 Mile Road paving project.

City engineer Cara Grissimer said the work will replace six water-main crossings across 9 Mile Road and extend one crossing up Sussex Avenue to Rosemary, so the city avoids reopening newly paved surfaces later. “This project is going to replace, 6 water main crossings across 9 mile prior to our 9 mile paving project later this summer,” Grissimer told the council.

Grissimer said the city selects replacement locations using its water-main break maps and the multi-year capital plan. She estimated the city has replaced roughly 10 miles of pipe out of an estimated 86 miles of water mains (about 12%) over the last 30 years and gave conservative life-expectancy figures for new mains: “Most engineering estimates put it as a conservative 50 years,” she said, and added that many installations can last 70–75 years.

Council member Julie Edgar noted the project’s budget implications and said Senator McMorrow’s office provided $1,100,000 toward the project. Grissimer described that award as a reimbursable state grant: the city will initially pay contractors and then seek reimbursement after showing proof of payment. She said the city expected an upfront partial payment (about $625,000) and — given current planning and reimbursement — a net city cost of roughly $50,000 once financing and reimbursements settle.

Council took a roll-call vote; Council member Crawford, Council member Edgar, Mayor McClellan and Mayor Pro Tem Whitehead voted yes and the motion carried.

The council’s action moves the water-main replacements into the contract phase; staff said construction scheduling is coordinated with the 9 Mile road resurfacing to minimize repeated roadwork.